FiiO 2022 new product schedule
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(3) New desktop DAC/Amps preview and existing product information
FiiO's desktop DAC/Amps are defined as DAC/Amps for desktop scenarios. There are USB-powered mini models like the E10K and K3, and AC-powered ones like the K5 Pro and K9 Pro with greater output power.
In 2022, FiiO will launch new desktop DAC/Amps, including the K7 and K9, mainly to fill the gaps in the product line.
1. Desktop DAC/Amp K7, expected to be released at the end of July
The K7 follows the appearance structure of the K5 Pro, adding a 4.4 balanced output. The K5 Pro is FiiO's very popular desktop DAC/Amp in the past two years, with good sound quality, high output power, compact body and appropriate price. But since the balanced headphone output port is absent, many users and our sales agents have kept asking us to increase the balanced output. That's how the K7 was born.
2. Desktop DAC/Amp K9, also expected to be released at the end of July, with a very competitive price
The K9 Pro is a desktop DAC/Amp with excellent performance, strong output power, complete input and output ports, and high-definition Bluetooth input. But the two expensive ES9038Pro chips also push up the cost of the whole device. In order to reduce the selling price, we chose two lower-end ES9068AS DAC chips on the K9, which allows users with limited budgets to have more choices. Except for the different DAC chip, all other functions and amp circuits have been preserved.
As for the current models, including the E10K, K3, K5 Pro, and K9 Pro, all of them have been replaced with new solutions in the past year due to the shortage of chips, so they will not be upgraded in 2022.
In this way, the E10K-K3-K5 Pro-K7-K9-K9 Pro has formed a reasonable section in terms of price, size and output power, enriching the product line and giving consumers more choices.
Of course, it may also disappoint some netizens, because the K7 and K9 follow the design language of FiiO's previous DAC/Amps. We understand your complaints. The main reason is that the sales of desktop products cannot compete with that of portable products at present, and the mold charge is also more expensive. It is not difficult to change the design with our current design capabilities, but the increased R&D costs will lead to higher offering prices of new products. We hope you can understand that we just want to provide you with better products at more reasonable prices.
In addition, I have introduced to you before that the K5 Pro was actually derived from the docking amplifier designed for FiiO portable music players, so we did not do serious research on desktop use scenarios in forms and functions. Its hot sale was a coincidence.
Therefore, strictly speaking, the K9 Pro is FiiO's first generation desktop DAC/Amps. It fully considers everyone's practical needs in terms of form, function, performance, input/output ports, and practical operation. From the perspective of market and user feedback, it is successful. We do need more time, market feedback, and more experience to help make the next-generation products more in line with user needs and thus provide a more comfortable using experience.
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